98% duplicate programming rate... Cable TV says, "Give us channel selection rights"

Cable TV operators say MPPs bundle popular and less popular channels, raising costs for SOs and reducing channel diversity.

A study found duplicate programming among channels under the same company could reach as high as 98%.

The industry wants the government to revise guidelines so MPPs can be penalized for refusing separate contracts for individual channels.

The debate is feeding calls to rethink competition rules and regulation in the pay-TV market.